Uniting Against a Common Enemy: Formation of International Alliances Against CBRN Terrorism

A paper by Zamawang Almemar, MS Candidate, George Mason University Biodefense, USA

The threat of terrorism, whether from conventional weapons (tanks, assault rifles, etc.) or unconventional weapons (i.e. biological weapons), has become the new norm and is now globally acknowledged. This paper examines the forces that shape international alliances by which countries attract allies to stand against a common enemy. It will then attempt to contribute to the understanding of how the Middle Eastern countries are uniting and collaborating with the international community to defeat their new enemy, Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), and the threat of Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) terrorism. The factors that determine how countries choose their allies shape the country’s international relationship and perception. Some of the key areas that are examined in this paper are the evolution of the definition of alliance (pre/post 9/11) in countering terrorism and the threat caused by CBRN terrorism. It will also examine the choices made by the great powers, such as the United States, on whom to protect and how. Finally, it will analyze the potential threats, namely the globalization of ISIS, that have forced Middle Eastern countries to seek alliance with other regional neighbors, as well as Europe and the United States. The international community, especially the Middle Eastern countries are forming alliances and uniting to defeat a common enemy, ISIS, and their threat of CBRN terrorism.